Connecter for cordeau bickford



B. J. DUFFY Nov. 8, 1932.

CONNECTER FOR CORDEAU BICKFORD Filed Jan. 20, 1931 m ws/vrw? alga-gaff? .Ber/

gzrffm/ TED BERT J. DUFFY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HERCULES POWDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON,'DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CONNECTER FOR COBDEA'U IBICKI'OBD Application filed January 20, 1981. Serial No. 509,909.

My invention relates to improved means for connecting lengths ofcordeau Bickford in connection with blasting operations.

1 Cordeau Bickford, as is well known, com- 5 prises a tube, usually of lead, filled with TNT.

Cordeau Bickford, as is well known, is used for the detonation of charges in-blasting, in

place of ordinary or electric blasting caps.

In use a main line of cordeau Bickford is 1 laid and branch lines secured to the main line at desired points are extended into charges to be fired. Detonation of the main line of cordeau Bickfordis initiated by means of a blasting cap and the detonation of the main 5 line serves to initiate detonation of the branch lines, detonation of which in turn effects detonation of the explosive charges.

Heretofore, in connecting the branch lines with a main line it has been customary to s lit the tube or casing of the cordeau for a is- -tance from an end of the branch line and secure the branch line to the main line by winding the split end portions in opposite d1- rections around the main line. Such method of connection, while it serves the purpose, is not wholly desirable for various reasons, chief among which is that a special splitting tool is required, and after the connection is made the TNT at the open end of the branch line adjacent to the main line is exposed to the weather, requiring that it be protected by some form of wrapping, as with wax paper, in inclement weather, in order to insure its detonation.

Now, in accordance with my invention, I provide means for the connection of branch lines of cordeau with a main line which may be simply and inexpensively produced, which may be readily applied without the use of any special tools and which will not only afford a superior connection, but will effectively shield or protect the TNT at the open land of the branch line adjacent to the main me. C

Having indicated, in a general way, the nature and purpose of my invention, I shall proceed to a detailed descri tion of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a lay-out involving the use of cordeau in blastmg.

Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, showing an embodiment of my invention for (clonnection of a main and branch line of coreau.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the subject matter of Figure 2.

Fi ure 4 is a side view fied "orm of my invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the subject of Figure 4. r

In the drawing (1 indicates a body to be blasted, as for example, rock. I), b, b indicate drill holes suitably charged with explosive, as for example, ynamlte. 0 indicates a main line of cordeau Bickford and d, d, (2 indicate branch lines of cordeau Bickford extending respectively into the explosive charges in the holes 6, b, b and connected to showing a modithe main line at the points e, e, e. f is a blasting cap adapted to be fired to initiate detonation of the mainline 0 by means of a suitable electric circuit connected in the usual manner with the lead wires 9 and the cap.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3', it will be noted that the branch line d, has an end abutted, or substantially abutted, with the main line of cordeau c. The two lines are connected by means of a member, formed of any suitable material, but desirably of a material which will retain any given form, as for example, brass. The member is desirably unitary but may of course be made insections suitably secured to one another. The member comprises a body portion h, from which extend extensions 5, i. The body It is desirably of substantially greater width than are the extensions i, z" and the edges of the extensions are curved, as indicated at 7',

at their juncture with the body. The extensions z, i may desirabl be provided with laterally extending tabs 4 For the securing of a branch line of cordeau to a main line and for the protection of the open end of the branch line adjacent to the main line the body of the member is caused to embrace the main line, the end portions of the body being desirably crimped to the main line, as indicated at l, Flgure 3, and the extensions are caused to oppositely engage the end portions of the-branch line, being crimped thereto or being secured thereto by engagement of the tabs in, k with the opposite extension respectively. When the ody and extensions of the member are positioned in engagement with the main and branch line of the cordeau as will be observed from an inspection of Figure 3, the curved edges of the extensions adjacent to the body will meet and the extensions will form an adequate shield for the open end portion of the branch line.

Referrlng more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, by which are shown a modified embodiment .of my invention, it will be noted that the main line a and branch line 01 of cordeau are connected by means of a member having a body portion embracing the main line and extensions 2', i oppositely engaging the end portion of the branch line. In the embodimentof Figures 4 and 5 the extensions, it will be noted, overlap at the edges and it will be noted that adjacent to the body they form .a shield for the open end of the branch line d. It will be noted that in accordance with my invention means are provided for readily connecting lengths of cordeau Bickford, while at the same time the open end of a length connected intermediate the ends of another length is adequately shielded or protected from the influence of inclement weather, as rain. As has been indicated, the connecting member may be made of any suitable material which may be of such a character that it will enable the connecter to be bent into operable position. Thus, the connecter may be of lead, zinc, copper, tin, etc., etc.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a length of cordeau Bickford, a second length of cordeau Bickford extending at an angle to said first length and positioned with an end adjacent to said first length, a unitary member having a body portion embracing said first length of cordeau Bickford and extensionsv from said body adapted to oppositely engage the end portion of said second length of cordeau Bickford and secure the lengths together, the extensions forming ashield for the end of said second length, one of the extensions being provided wit a laterally extending tab adapted to embrace the other extension.

2. In combination, a length of cordeau Bickford, a second length of cordeau Bick- 

